The festival started on Friday evening with a show called “The Art of the Duo” at the Backstage Productions Lounge, featuring Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Natalie Cressman on trombone, Dena DeRose on piano, and Rich Syracuse on bass. The main festival events took place on Saturday, outdoors on Kingston’s Wall Street, in a business district lined with charming shops of every description, from antique dealers and clothing boutiques to eateries. Most of the businesses were open during the festival, and there were some great sales and bargains to be had. If you’re ever in Kingston, be sure to get some macaroni and cheese from Sissy’s Café! Word on the street was that it was the culinary hit of the festival.

 

Hundreds of people filled Wall Street, and it almost felt like a big neighborhood block party with great music. The weather and timing of the festival combined to make a perfect festival atmosphere. Although it had been quite hot during the day, the festival didn’t start until 6:00 p.m. By that time, the weather had cooled down to an agreeably comfortable temperature, and it remained beautifully clear and cool for the remainder of the evening.

 

Chris McNulty Band

The Chris McNulty Band was the first group on Saturday, and they began their set with “How Little We Know” and “I’m Old Fashioned.”  The trio, led by the elegantly clad and voiced Chris McNulty, featured her husband, phenomenal guitarist Paul Bollenback, and the brilliant bassist Ugonna Okegwo. They have a pared-down yet lovely and intimate sound, and make the most of every note. Vocalist McNulty was born in Melbourne, Australia, but has been a New Yorker for over 20 years. To the crowded Wall Street audience, she said, “I’ve never played on a street before, and it’s a delightful little festival in a delightful little town!” McNulty also told the audience that her group had just returned from Germany, and it had been a hectic time, so she was happy to be in such a laid-back atmosphere. The set continued with the Michel Legrand song “Pieces of Dreams,” a song McNulty first heard years ago. However, translating it for a drum-less trio was quite a challenge. Ultimately, the spritely, upbeat result was worth the trouble. They followed with a poignant and somber version of “One Less Bell to Answer” that was performed by Chris McNulty and Paul Bollenback as a duo. McNulty ended the set by telling the crowd, “Thank you for being such a warm, wonderful audience and making us feel so welcome on the streets of Kingston.” She then segued into a very appropriate closing song, “On the Street Where You Live.”

 

Natalie Cressman Band

The Natalie Cressman Band started their set with original songs “Skylight”  and “Flip.” A young and very talented group, they continued the show with Mingus’ “Goodbye Porkpie Hat,” with up-and-comer Cressman doing double duty on both trombone and vocals, employing a beautiful soprano voice that was well received by the crowd. She said that she chose to do Joni Mitchell’s vocalese on this song, because she’s a big fan of Ms. Mitchell. Cressman was joined by Ivan Rosenberg on trumpet, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on tenor saxophone, Pascal LeBoeuf on piano, Martin Nevin on bass, and Jake Goldbas on drums. The depth of the musicianship of this young group belied their years, and they closed the set with another Cressman original number, “Reaching for Home.”

 

Ingrid Jensen Band

Internationally acclaimed trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, looking cooler than cool in a black and white ensemble, wowed the crowd on “Take the “A” Train.” Although Jensen’s outfit was cool, her trumpet playing was hot and impassioned.  She told the audience, “I’m not going to waste time yakking. We’re here, barfing babies and all! Anyone who has children will know what I mean,” getting a knowing laugh from the audience. The concert continued with “I Loves You Porgy” with some hauntingly beautiful solos by Jensen. Ingrid was joined on stage by bassist Matt Clohesy, pianist Dawn Clement, and drummer Jon Wikan, who also happens to be Ingrid Jensen’s husband. Clement added her vocals to “I Fall in Love Too Easily.” Then, Jensen took the Wall Street crowd on a journey to the southern part of Alaska, with a song she wrote, “At Sea.” It was a captivating song, very evocative of ocean travel, and a perfect end to Ingrid Jensen’s fantastic set.

 

Estrella Salsa Band

The Estrella Salsa Band played the last set of the night, and they really got the crowd going. Pianist Peggy Stern, one of the co-founders of the Wall Street Jazz Festival, was joined by “Sweet” Sue Terry on alto and soprano saxophone, Claire Daly on baritone saxophone, bassist Lew Scott, Pito Castillo on congas, drummer Pete O’Brien, percussionist Emilio Valdés (the son of famed Cuban bandleader “Chucho”  Valdés), and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, fresh from her own concert. The band burned up the cool night air with a string of salsa numbers, including “Armando’s Rhumba” by Chick Corea. The area directly in front of the stage was turned into a dance floor, and people of all levels of dance ability got up and shook it to the incendiary music of the Estrella Salsa Band.

 

Canine Jazz Fans

Unlike many festivals, dogs are very welcome at the Wall Street Jazz Festival. Dogs of every shape and size attended the festival, and other than some mutual sniffing and an occasional bark, they were remarkably well-behaved. One particular dog, an adorable Shih Tzu/Rat Terrier mix named Reggie (short for Regina), was brought to the festival by her owners, Elisa Geliebter and Myra Dirnfeld. Although this was Reggie’s first jazz festival, you would never have known it, because she was a perfect little jazz fan, chilling out and listening to all the music. Reggie looked like she was having the time of her life, and so did the other dogs in attendance. Obviously, dogs with behavioral issues wouldn’t fit in at Wall Street, but obedient, well-mannered dogs add a lot to the charm and character of the festival. 

 

Wrap-Up

Although there was a modest charge for the Friday evening indoor concert, the Saturday outdoor sets were completely free of charge to the public! For free events like this, sponsors are essential. The Wall Street Jazz Festival was made possible in part by a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council. Other sponsors for the festival include Stewart’s Shops, Woodstock Chimes, and Radio Woodstock 100.1.

On the festival website, www.wallstreetjazzfestival.com, the mission of the festival is stated as follows: “Where the traditions meet the progressives, and all the leaders are women.” For those who appreciate women in jazz, this small gem of a festival is definitely one to catch.